Grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) is one of the most important fruit crops worldwide. In
Europe, high-quality wine producing areas are traditionally non-irrigated. However,
irrigation has become a wide-spread agronomical practice to overcome the deleterious
effects of drought, high temperature and high evaporative demand that vines can be
exposed to during the growing season. This is particularly true in the Mediterranean
area, where the foreseen scenario predicts that water deficit may become a limiting
factor in wine production and quality. Paradoxically, the imposition of mild to moderate
water deficit (WD) via e.g. water deficit irrigation has been regarded as an agronomical
tool that manipulates berry sensory characteristics, while maintaining yield.
Grape berries, which are described as non-climacteric fruits, undergo a complex
biochemical suite of alterations during development and ripening that remain poorly
understood, including the molecular events that control the onset of ripening. At
harvest, grape berry quality is largely dependent on the sugar/acids balance within the
berry flesh, and on phenolic compounds (e.g. flavonoids) in the grape skin, which
contribute to wine colour, aroma and flavour.(...)